We all know the mantra, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. But with busy days, tossing used containers in the recycling bin can feel like all we have capacity to think about. Here are specific ideas for how to incorporate more environmentally conscious decisions into your everyday:
- What products do you use often enough that you can buy larger or bulk sizes of and that won’t go bad? Doing so often uses less plastic, and decreases the number of times a small item has to be produced and transferred relative to a larger one. Some things you should consider buying larger if you have the storage space: hand soap, dish soap, dishwashing pods, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, laundry detergent, cleaning products, oatmeal, and flour.
- Swap to products in paper instead of plastic. Plastic does not go away. It just breaks down into micro plastic that are everywhere. Some items that can generally be found in paper instead of plastic are: dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, shampoo bars, and hand soap.
- Purchase from bulk bins at grocery stores using your own containers. Beware of buying in bulk in general though and only purchase items you will actually use before they go bad. Bulk stores can entice you to purchase more than you can use and can also inadvertently create more waste.
- Peruse Craigslist, NextDoor, or the Facebook Marketplace to find used items first. Many basic things we buy can easily be sanitized and used second hand. Some examples include: coffee tables, dining tables, children’s outdoor toys like slides or water tables, diaper pails, patio furniture, shelves, desks, or dishes.
- So many items have brothers that are made with better materials. Shoes like Rothys are made of recycled plastic bottles. There are toothbrushes made of bamboo instead of plastic. Try plant-based clothing like Reprise before purchasing athleisure made of microfibers.
- Shopping locally isn’t just good for your local economy and therefore your neighbors, it also is good for the environment when goods don’t have to travel far to get to you. Start with your farmers market or your local craft shows.
- Look for these certifications when purchasing products: GreenGuard, Forest Stewardship Council, Green Seal, Marine Stewardship Council, and WaterSense
- Switch to paperless account statements for bank accounts, utilities, credit cards, and retirement accounts.
- Unsubscribe from sales catalogs using a service like Catalog Choice.
- Buy beeswax or bowl covers to replace plastic wrap.
- Try a silicone bag like Stasher bag or Zip Top bags to replace single use baggies for snacks.
- Swap to a menstrual cup instead of pads or tampons.
- Add a microfiber filter to your washing machine or wash in a guppy bag to prevent microfibers from leeching into the ocean like Filtrol or a Cora Ball.
- Purchase cloth gift bags that can be reused or repurpose newspapers to wrap gifts.
- Use wool or silicone dryer balls instead of dryer sheets.
